"Madras Manade": How Chennai Remained with Tamil Nadu

Title:

"Madras Manade": How Chennai Remained with Tamil Nadu

Author:

Venkatachalapathy, A.R.

Publication:

Marg / Marg Publications

Enumeration:

Vol.57 No. 4, June 2006, pp. 9–18

Abstract:

In the context of the demands for linguistic reorganization of states at the time of Independence, the Telugu-speaking people of Madras Presidency demanded a separate Andhra province. This was coupled with a claim – captured in the alliterative Telugu slogan, ‘Madras Manade’, Madras is ours – on the overwhelmingly Tamil majority city of Chennai. While the demand for an Andhra province was undisputed across the political spectrum, the claim on Chennai proved a stumbling block. Precipitated by the tragic fast unto death of Potti Sriramulu, ultimately Andhra province was formed but without Chennai. This essay contextualizes and narrates the sequence of events that reinforced Chennai as the capital of Tamilnadu.